King Charles II at Whiteladies (King Charles II; Richard Penderel) 1669

Editor: So here we have "King Charles II at Whiteladies" – also known as "King Charles II; Richard Penderel"– painted by Isaac Fuller around 1669, in oil. It strikes me as a fairly informal, intimate portrait, quite different from the regal images you often see of monarchs. It looks like they're maybe sneaking away from somewhere? What’s your take on it? Curator: It *is* rather wonderfully scruffy, isn't it? Far from the usual powdered wigs and ermine robes. Fuller's captured a clandestine moment, almost like eavesdropping on a hushed conversation. He’s telling a story, which invites a completely different kind of relationship with the King – makes him almost touchable. Think about the historical context: Charles II was on the run after the Battle of Worcester. Editor: Oh right, he was in hiding! So that’s Penderel helping him? Curator: Exactly. Richard Penderel was one of the Catholic yeoman brothers who famously aided Charles’s escape. Note the details—the earthy tones, the urgency in their expressions, the way Penderel subtly guides Charles. It isn’t about power, it's about human connection in extraordinary circumstances, all done in that delightfully dramatic Baroque style. And the composition? What does it tell you? Editor: The figures dominate the space, kind of cramped together, maybe emphasizing their vulnerability and reliance on each other? Plus, the setting feels...well, quite ramshackle. It definitely adds to the feeling that they are really vulnerable at that time! Curator: Yes! Fuller perfectly captures this vulnerability, while using, for example, the lighting to keep some sense of hope and optimism, right there on the horizon, towards the left. It's a fantastic way to represent a perilous time. Editor: I never thought a portrait of a king could feel so…human, so desperate! It’s way more gripping than the usual stately portraits. Thanks. Curator: And that’s the joy of art, isn't it? Pulling back the curtain, seeing beyond the crown. Always worth a closer look.